About licensing authorities

The Gambling Act 2005 designates certain classes of local authorities in England and Wales (and licensing boards in Scotland) as licensing authorities.

Licensing authorities have a number of important regulatory functions in relation to licensing premises for gambling including:

issuing premises licences
regulating gaming and gaming machines in clubs, and on alcohol licensed premises
granting permits to family entertainment centres for the use of certain lower stake gaming machines
granting permits for prize gaming
registering small society lotteries
tracks.